Jinzhou sets out to develop sailing industry

Jinzhou, a coastal city in Liaoning province, will build itself into a center for sailing and sailboarding and an aquatic sports capital in Northeast China to support regional economic upgrading and transformation, according to the local government.

Jinzhou is known for the winds that blow across the city coming from the ocean throughout the year. From June to September, the city has a sea breeze ideal for sailing and sailboarding.

In 2019, the city invested more than 3 million yuan ($441,524) to build a sailing and sailboarding center equipped with floating wharfs and boat ramps.

Some courses have been developed for large-scale competitions.

Over the past two years, the city has strengthened its relationship with the Chinese Yachting Association and hosted a series of events and competitions. Eight national-level events including a sailboarding championship and a national sailing championship have been held in the city.

The city also hosted the Chinese yachting fleet which had been preparing for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in the summer of 2019.

In 2020, Jinzhou will host events such as the Asia Sailboard Championship, the Chinese Family Sailing Competition and the 6th Bohai Rim Sailing Rally.

The government's plans to promote the development of related industries are included in the city's government work report.

Local officials have visited sailing and sailboarding training centers in Haikou of Hainan province and Qinhuangdao in Hebei province to learn from their experiences.

According to the government, Jinzhou will expand its sailing industrial chain to lure sailing equipment manufacturers. A special town, focusing on sailing boat production, is in its planning stages, local officials said.

Enterprises are also being encouraged to build sailing and sailboarding-centered organizations, clubs and associations. Relevant training service providers which can serve varying demand, either for leisure or at professional level, are welcome to Jinzhou, the government said.

Training programs will be carried out in schools to give young people more knowledge about sailing and to foster more professional athletes for the future.